The Office for Contemporary Art Norway is a foundation created by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in autumn 2001 with the aim of strengthening the position of contemporary visual arts and production from Norway and of stimulating and facilitating exchange between Norwegian and international art professionals and institutions.
OCA offers financial support enabling non-profit international institutions and international curators to place Norwegian artists, curators and critics within professional exhibitions and contexts. OCA accepts applications on four deadlines throughout the year: 15 February, 15 May, 15 September and 1 November. Applications are accepted from non-profit entities, and priority is given to exhibitions taking place in key international art institutions and project spaces. Support is also given to solo exhibitions and group exhibitions initiated by international curators including Norwegian artists, as well as to Norwegian art professionals organising exhibitions and projects abroad. Norwegian artists and international artists with permanent residence in Norway may also apply for support. The objective for support is to foster the professional consideration and exhibition of Norwegian art abroad, innovative artistic production and a creative process of dialogue and collaboration within the spectrum of contemporary cultural practice. Applications are assessed by an international jury appointed by OCA.
OCA provides international residencies for Norwegian artists, curators and critics abroad, including residencies at the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York City, Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, Germany, Platform Garanti in Istanbul, Turkey, Platform China in Beijing, China, Berlin Mitte in Berlin, Wiels Contemporary Art Centre in Brussels, Belgium and at Capacete in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil. OCA accepts applications for these programmes and applications are considered by an international jury appointed by OCA.
The International Studio Programme Oslo is available for international artists, curators and cultural practitioners at the invitation of OCA for a stay of up to three months, independently or in connection to specific research within Norway. The programme provides residents with one of three studios located within OCA at Nedre Gate 7, accommodation located nearby OCA and a honorarium for expenses. Residents are encouraged to engage with the art scene and to establish temporary and permanent exchanges with artists and other art professionals throughout the country.
The International Visitor Programme enables international curators, critics and cultural producers to visit Norway for research meetings with artists, curators and writers. IVP is made available to selected individuals by invitation only.
OCA is a cultural meeting place for Norwegians and citizens from throughout the world. As a multidisciplinary institution with an expanded public platform, OCA seeks to enhance the appreciation of contemporary Norwegian artistic achievements by offering a series of discursive, residency, exchange and exhibition programmes focusing on current artistic and intellectual currents in Norway and abroad, and cooperating with cultural and academic institutions abroad.
Twice a year OCA publishes the OCA Semesterplan, a calendar of events providing public information about the schedule of OCA's public activities, lectures, screenings and exhibitions taking place within OCA's premises and on OCA's initiative.
Verksted was launched by Office for Contemporary Art Norway in 2003 as a series of publications and seminars focused on current discourses relating to contemporary production, culture and aesthetics. Verksted was expanded in 2006 with a renewed commitment to exploring the relationship between philosophy and aesthetics. With OCA's move to Nedre gate 7 in 2008, Verksted extended its research and investigation into OCA's public space, with presentations of artworks as well as workshops, discussions and conferences.
Click here to download OCA's statutes in Norwegian (PDF). For English (PDF) version, please click here.
